Toronto Zoo Turtle Stewardship and Management Workshop, March 17-19, 2008

This is an important time for turtle species at risk in Ontario.  The Ontario Multi-species Turtles at Risk Recovery (OMSTARR) Strategy is in the process of identifying threats to our native turtle species and providing recommendations for their recovery.  In response, Toronto Zoo hosted a 3-day workshop on the stewardship, conservation and management of turtle populations.  This workshop focused on management of critical habitat and long-term viability of habitat complexes for the conservation of long-lived turtle species.

Below are the abstracts, presentations, and Q & A notes for each presenter.  Please note that the information in the presentations is owned by the presenter, and photos, graphs, or other data can only be used with permission from the presenter.

Monday, March 17th, 2008

Practicum 1 – Pond Design and Construction (T. Biebighauser)
Presentation

Practicum 2 – Turtle Rehabilitation (K. Hiltz, J. Paré, M. Kummrow, G. Crawshaw)

KTTC introduction; basic needs of a rehab centre; Dr. Kristy Hiltz
Presentation

Anatomy & Physiology; Dr. Jean Paré
Presentation

Triage / Assessment, First Aid; Dr. Kristy Hiltz
Presentation

Imaging; Dr. Maya Kummrow
Presentation

Diseases & Pathology; Dr. Jean Paré
Presentation

Treatment & Care; Dr. Kristy Hiltz
Presentation

Rehabilitation & Release; Dr. Kristy Hiltz
Presentation

Anesthesia & Analgesia; Dr. Graham Crawshaw
Presentation

Surgery / Shell Repair; Dr. Kristy Hiltz
Presentation

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008

Dr. Ron Brooks: SAR: the Precautionary Principle, Moral Instincts, and Peak Oil
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Session 1 Thermoregulation and Basking Site Protection

Tanessa Hartwig: Basking habitat characteristics of Blanding's turtles in natural and constructed wetlands in southeastern New York
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Session 2 Nesting Locations: Protection and Construction

Nicole Richards: Methods for characterization of freshwater turtle nesting beaches in an urban environment
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Dr. Justin Congdon: Response of nesting turtles to introduced shrubs and forest succession on the E.S. George Reserve over 32 years
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Session 2 Nesting Locations: Protection and Construction (con’t)

Scott Gillingwater: Nest Site Creation and Maintenance as an Effective Tool in Species Recovery
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Helen Czech: Nesting site creation for the eastern spiny softshell in New York
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Martin Smith: Design, construction and monitoring of a successful snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine) nesting habitat site in Niagara College’s on-campus wetland, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Tanessa Hartwig:  Characteristics and management of nesting habitat constructed for Blanding's turtle in southeastern New York
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Session 3 Model Stewardship Programmes

Dr. Justin Congdon: People, places, and the terrestrial component of core habitats of turtles: nesting by females and and hatchling orientation and dispersal from nests
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Duncan Smith: Developing Environmental Advocates by Involving Canadians in Species at Risk Recovery
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Chris Bellemore: Building a Community Stewardship Program from Local Research
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Scott Gillingwater: Science, Education and Sympathy, a Strategy for Successful Stewardship of Turtles in Ontario
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Ian McIntosh, Christine Baptista, Candace Maracle: Toronto Zoo Turtle Stewardship Programmes
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Dr. Whit Gibbons: Why would anyone want to manage turtles, and why should anyone else care?
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

Dr. Justin Congdon: The currency of life-history evolution: why old turtles are valuable, and how they got that way
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Session 4 Overwintering Site Protection
Dr. Whit Gibbons: Overwintering hatchling turtles: some they do, and some they don't, and some you just can't tell
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Dr. Sarah Milton: Extreme Survivor: The physiology of living through the winter without oxygen
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Chris Edge: Surviving winter: balancing anoxia tolerance and temperature
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Session 5 Lessons in Small Population Management Using Population Viability Assessments

Dr. Tom Herman
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Dan Thompson
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Session 6 Egg Protection and Head Starting as Conservation Tools
Ed O’Brien: Plymouth Red-bellied Turtle Head Start Program in Massachusetts
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Scott Gillingwater: Effectiveness of Nest Protection and Artificial Egg Incubation for Turtles in Ontario
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Mike Lawton: Using incubation and headstarting as conservation tools for Nova Scotia's endangered Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A

Peter Kydd: Using GPS loggers to track the endangered Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in Nova Scotia
Abstract
Presentation
Q & A